Special thanks also to Snow for invaluable assistance with Japanese words, names, and customs; to Astra for providing Maimonides' Prayer and Jewish quotes, sayings, and customs; to DumlaoX for the character and proper names for Claw and Fang; and to Batya for the character of Dr. Goldblum, additional Jewish customs and terms, information on New York City proper, and for final editing of the finished story.
Cinnamon (cinnamon@xtdl.com)
Japanese Glossary:
- Anata
- literally means "you," but used lovingly between married couples -- the equivalent of "Dear" or "Beloved."
- Okaasan
- familiar address for mother -- like "Mom" or "Mama."
- Otoosan
- familiar address for father -- like "Dad" or "Papa."
- -san
- suffix added to a name in direct conversation denoting courteous respect.
- -sama
- suffix added to title when addressing a superior.
- Komainu
- large fierce-looking stone dogs or lions placed at the gates of Shinto shrines to drive away demons and evil spirits.
- Ji-san
- male form of address that's still semi-formal but seems most gangster-like.
- Baa-san
- contemptuous form of addressing a woman but still semi-formal.
- Ji-jii
- severely contemptuous form of addressing a man -- like "geezer."
- Ba-baa
- severely contemptuous form of addressing a woman.
- wakashu
- gangster/soldier
- Yakuza
- Japanese underworld crime syndicate. Tommy Kimura is part of a bakuto (gamblers gang) The gang structure is:
- socho
- president
- kashimoto-oyabun
- bosses in charge of "loans." There are 11 in Tommy's bakuto.
- ikka
- Yakuza "family" headed by one of the kashimoto-oyabun. Ikka members become part of the "family" by induction following an apprenticeship. When inducted they adopt the family name as their own.
- kobun
- individual inducted member of an ikka.
- daigashi
- manager -- runs a particular establishment -- usually an illegal gambling house.
- dekata
- workers in the gambling houses.
- sanshita
- basic workers, guards, cleaners, "grunts."
Jewish Glossary (Hebrew unless otherwise specified):
- kipah
- small skullcap worn by Jewish men. May be as plain or as quirky as the individual chooses.
- shaharit
- regular weekday morning prayers.
- Minchah
- regular weekday afternoon prayers.
- shul
- another term for synagogue.
- Chanukah gelt
- chocolate "coins" usually given for Chanukah. Gold foil wrapped are milk chocolate; silver foil are dark chocolate.
- Shabbat
- Sabbath
- daven
- pray (Yiddish)
- dreidel (Yiddish; sevivon in Hebrew)
- small square spinning top commonly given to children at Chanukah. Hebrew letters on the sides form an acronym to the sentence: "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham" ("A Great Miracle Was There")
- rugelach
- a sweet pastry usually made with either chocolate or cinnamon.
- Baruch HaShem
- literally, "blessed be the Name" -- equivalent of "thank God."
- Zeeskeit (Yiddish)
- literally, "sweetie" -- equivalent of "Dear" or "Beloved"
- shaina punem (Yiddish)
- literally, "cute-face" -- term of endearment
- Oy gevalt! (or Oy vey!)
- common expression of exasperation. [Note: These and other terms are further explained in the context of the story.]